Amy Karatz

Here’s the thing. I’m not an “anti-gun” kind of guy. I own firearms. What I’m against, is the idea that the 2nd Amendment was intended to be used to prevent the passing of legislation that could help bring about much needed changes that would save lives. The 2nd Amendment was ratified in 1791. In 1791 there were 4 million people in the United States. Today, that many people live in Los Angeles. Things have changed since 1791. In 1791, a simple blister-perhaps a sore spot on the heel, from ill fitting shoes-could become like a runaway train. With no antibiotics to stop the bacteria from multiplying rapidly, organ failure would often ensue….with death right behind. Things have changed since 1791. In 2023, few would agree to have to heart surgery with doctors who were using the understanding of the human cardiovascular system that was available in 1791. Things have changed since 1791. Why, then, are we so fixated on an Amendment that was ratified 232 years ago…..using the understanding of society, human behavior and technology that was available, then? Things have changed since 1791. Things should be amended, when they are, to reflect changes that are needed to best serve society as a whole. Amendments should foster the changes that best fit that new society…and the complexities of how that society has evolved. The 2nd Amendment does not reflect how society has evolved. I see a problem with that. Things have changed since 1791. Perhaps the 2nd Amendment needs to be amended. At the end of the day, the GOP is only interested in “progress”…..as long as it occurs, while navigating in such a way that the ideas recored 232 years ago, or, in the case of a fundamentalist understanding and interpretation of the bible….2000 years ago. The ideas that heart surgeons now use to guide them have gone through many transformations and evolutions-driven by science-in the years since 1791. So has the treatment of things like cellulitis-a dangerous soft tissue infection-perhaps born from the initial break of the skin from a thorn. Things have changed since 1791. Everywhere else, we make constant updates to how we go about doing things. We do, because nothing but updating as we go makes sense. Unless…. Unless…..we are talking about trying to decrease the number of surviving children who have the brain matter of their classmates slamming into their faces…and against the walls behind them. No, here…we abandon the concept of changing the ideas we use to guide our decisions, and staying on top of things by using the newest, and most accurate information available. This is the place where our elected officials say “Fuck it. Let’s just keep using that Amendment from 1791….and be done with it.” I’m not anti-gun. I’m anti-stupidity. Continuing to use an Amendment ratified based on a society from 232 years ago….to justify the continued slaughter of innocent human beings…is stupidity. Things have changed since 1791. Even how easily dark souled human beings can kill. Today, it’s a whole lot easier.